Heating device for internal-combustion motors



Nov. 11, 1930. l c. s. sLlcHTER 1,781,412

HEATING' DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS Filed July 9, 19.28`

Patented' Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE CHARLES S. SLICHTER,F MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORTO MOTORHEATOR COM- PANY, OF MADISON,WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN HEATING DEvTcE EenINTERNAL-coMBUsTIoN morons Application led .July 9,

This invention relates to heating devices for internal combustionmotors.

A general object of the invention is to provide a heating arrangementadapted to co- '5 operate with an internal combustion motor so :as tofacilitate starting of the same in cool weather, and wherein the energynecessary to operate the heating arrangement vmay be drawn from acommercial lighting circuit ordinarily accessible in garages and thelike, whereby the oil in the crank case housin may be warmed, and thevaporization o fuel in the carbureter and manifold facilitated. 151 Amore particular object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofheating devices electrically connected so as to operate -in unison towarmthe oil in the crank case and' at the same time heat the fuel priorto its introduction into the engine to facilitate vaporization andprevent undesirable condensation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heater includingan linsulated re-v sistance element and support therefor, whioh isapplied to the crank case of an engine in such manner as to warm the oiland thin it, thereby removing a large amount of resistance in startingthe "motor and avoiding draining of the starting battery and alsofacilitating immediate circulation of the oil l ,posed about manifoldconnection so as to Warm the fuel issuing fromv the carburcter into themanifold. It is alsoan object of the invention to provide a heatingelement with suitable connections, wherein the heating elef ment issupplied with different amounts of electricity, and the intensity ofheat delivered by the heating device varied to suit diierent atmosphericconditions.

The invention also contemplates a combination wherein the heatingdevices for the crank case and-manifold are electrically connected so asto be actuated from a common 1928. Serial No. 291,225.

-ent temperatures, both heaters being operable from a common plug,having a plurality of contacts, whereby the plug may be connected to thelighting circuit to transmit the electric current to provide differentdegrees of heat in the crank case heating device.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of the forward portion of an automobile and showing themotor thereof, in connection with which the heating devices areutilized, said ligure also illustrating the manner in which the heatingdevices may be connected to a commercial lighting circuit. Fi re 2 is atransverse sectional view taken t rough the4 crank case heating device,and corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 isa longitudinal sectional view of the crank case heating devicecorresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is ahorizontal sectional view taken through the manifold and manifoldheating device and corresponding tothe line 4 4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 isa transverse vertical sectional view correspondin substantially t0 theline 5 5 of Figure 4. igure 6 is an enlarged detailed perspective viewof the plug socket used in connect-ionv with the heating circuit. Figure7 is an enlarged perspective detailed view of a plug used in connectionwith the lighting circult, and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic layout of thewiring utilized in connection with the heating devices.

As shown in the drawings 10 represents the forward portion of anautomobile having the usual radiator 11, and apron 12 which connects thefront fenders. The motor is provided with the usual crank case oilreservoir indicated at 13.' The motor also is provided with a carburetor14 which communicates with the inlet portion 15 of a manifold 16 leadingto the cylinders. All of the construction thus far described is of anold type and forms no part of the present invention except so far as itenters into combination with the heating elements hereinafter described.

A heating arrangement is provided including two heaters, one for thecrank case indicated generally by the reference character A and theother for the manifold indicated generally by the reference character B.'1 -he v heating device AV comprises a supporting plate 17, as bestshown in F1gure 2, the plate 17 being disposed fiat against the outerwall 19 of the crank case housing. The flanged portion 18 may be securedin position by the same bolts which extend through the flanges of thecrank case housing and motor block, as indicated at 20. Lying flatagainst the plate 17 is a layer of insulation 21, and bearing upon theouter edges of the layer 21 of msulation are flanges 22-22,.of acomposition cap of cup-shaped formation indicated at 23, the flanges 22being secured to the plate 17 Vby means of vrivets 24. Mounted withinthe housing formed by the plate 17 and the cap 23 is a sheet ofinsulating material such as mica, indicated at 25, and about theinsulating 25 in a longitudinal direction is wound a resistance'elemcntor wire indicated at 26, forming a circuit as hereinafter moreparticularly referred to. Packing 27 is placed within the cap 23 so asto fill the, same and bear 3a upon the insulating material 25 as shown.

The circuit for the heating device A is best shown in Figure 8. Throughthe use of a plug hereinafter referred t0, contacts 28 and 29 areprovided forming the terminals of the resistance coil 26. Anotherterminal 30 is tapped into the coil 26 'so that it is possible to utihzeonly a portion of the coil indicated at 31 so as to deliver a greateramount of heat than when the entire coil 26 is utilized by use ofthecontacts 28 and 29. The heating device A when energized by reason of itsposition against the crank case produces heat. of different degrees,depending upon whether VAthe full coil 26 or only part thereof isutilized, thereby making available heatA for p Warming the oil in thecrank case, thinning the same, and facilitating starting and lubricationof the motor.

The heater B is utilized in Vconnection with the carbureter manifoldinlet. As shown yin the drawing, the heater B is utilized in connectionwith an extension 32 on the carbureter leading to the inlet portion ofthema-nifold. The heater B comprises an elongated.

strip 33 adapted to be disposed about the extension 32 as best shown inFigure 4 and is provided with turned ears 34-34 through which areextended a securing bolt 35. Next to the plate 33 is secured a strip ofinsulato ing material 36, and outwardly of the strip 36 is la strip ofinsulating material, such as mica, about which is coiled a resistancewire 38, the ends of which communicate with ter- `minals 39 and/40. Theoutermost portion of the heater B consists of a layer of insulating Imaterial indicated at 41, which is held in position by a plurality ofears 42-42 at top and.

bottom, which are bent over the edges of the strip `41 and so maintainthe various parts which go to make up the heating unit B in assembledrelation. The heaterfB is `'connected in parallel with the circuit ofthe heater A,

as best shown 'in Figure 8. Connecting wires i from both the heaters Aand B lead to the socket plug 44, the wire from the terminal 28 leadinginto the socket 45, the Wire from the terminal 29 leading to the socket46 and the wire from the contact 30 leading to the socket 47. A contactplug 48 is provided which communicates with an ordinary commerciallighting'circuit through wires 49- 49 extending through a suitable cable50. f The plug 48 includes 3 pins, two of which are in electricalcommunication with the wires 49 and 50, while the pin 51 is dead. Theplug 44 is mounted in any suitable manner in some desirable locationupon the forward portion of the automobile, such as that shown inFigure 1. f2

Assuming that the motor is cold, and has been subjected for some time tolowI temperatures, the oil in the crank case will be relativie- .lythick, and in this condition interferes with tively great heatingeifect, the two live points communicating with the wires 49-49 of theplug 48 are inserted into'the sockets 4 5 and 46. This will establishelectrical communication with the portion 31 of the coil, and also withthe coil 38 of the heater B. This circuit simultaneously energizes boththe portion 31 of the heater A and the heater B, re-

sulting in supplying heat to the crank case and to the carburetermanifold. When somewhat slower heating is desirable, the live points ofthe plug 48 are inserted into the' sockets 46 and 47 which results inthe entire coil 31 being interposed in the circuit, and the coil 38 alsoin communication with the circuit, whereby somewhatless heat isgenerated by the heating deviceA, While the heater B functions as beforedescribed.

,. While l have herein shown and described what l now consider thepreferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merelyillustrative, andi contemplate ali changes i and modifications that come'within the scope of the claims attached hereto.

vWhat l claim: y1. In anar-rangement of the character described, thecombination with an internal asv Acombustion motor; of a heating elementassociated with the uel intake of said motor for Warming the fuel priorto its inlet to the motor, and a second heating element mount ed on thecrank case of the motor adjacent the oil level therein for warming the'oil in said motor prior to starting; and means electrically connectingsaid heaters for simultaneous operationsaid means including a terminalmember mounted in an accessible position and connected to both of saidheating elements to form a common terminal therefor, and a common plugconnected to a lighting circuit and adapted for detachable connectionwith said terminal member.

2. In an arrangement of the character described, the combinationof avehicle having a motor with a heater mounted on the outside of and incontact with the crank case of the motor below the oil level therein toheat the oil in contact with the inside of said crank case; of aresistance coil for said heater including contacts adjacent its ends anda contact intermediate its ends, said contacts leading to athree-contact plug permanently mounted on said vehicle in an accessibleposition; a second heater juxtapositioned with reference to and-incontact with the carburetor manifold of the motor to heat the fuelthrough the Wall of the manifold, said second heater having a resistancecoil connected in parallel Withsaid first coil; and means connected witha commercial lighting circuit for energizing said coils, said meanscomprising a plug having two contacts adapted to .be selectively anddetachably engaged with pairs of contacts of the three-contact plug.-

3. In a structure of the character described, the combination with aninternal combustion motor having a crank case; of an electrical heatingmeans for heating the oil in -said crank case, said electrical meanscomprising a plate formed to fit against the exterior wall of said crankcase, and having means engageable with the means for securing the crankcase in position upon the motor; a resistance element ldisposedimmediately adjacent said plate; insulation disposed exterior- 1y ofsaid resistance element and surrounding the same; and a cup shaped covermember enclosing said insulation and said resistance element, said coverbeing secured to said plate, and having a plurality of terminal posts inelectrical communication with said resistance element.

In witness that I claim the. foregoing I have hereunto subscribed myname this 6th day of July 1928.

i ACHARLES S. SLICHTER.

